Frank Warren, promoter for British heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, has devised a plan to make their showdown even bigger than it was when initially announced.

The two boxers were scheduled to fight in April, then in July, and now they are set to clash in October. Their first two dates fell through due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Joyce will return to the ring next Saturday night when he faces German veteran Michael Wallisch at BT Sport's Studios.

On August 29th, Dubois will fight for the first time since December when he takes on undefeated Erik Pfeifer.

Warren expects the upcoming fights to create more buzz for the Dubois vs. Joyce encounter in October.

It was also important for Warren to keep both boxers busy.

"Rio Olympic silver medallist Joyce hasn't been in the ring since he beat Bryant Jennings a year ago. So it was important he got a fight in before Dubois now that bout is delayed until October because of the pandemic. It is no pushover either for him and Wallisch will give him a real test to knock the ring rust off," Warren told The Daily Star.

"Dubois will step back into the ring for the first time since December. And he faces former amateur star Erik Pfeifer. If people think these bouts are just tick over jobs for the two heavyweights then they only need to look at the German's record as an amateur.

"He won two bronze medals at the world amateur championships and competed in two Olympics. Pfeifer has also two wins over 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka – the last man to beat Joyce in the ring – in the World Series of Boxing over five rounds.

"Dubois will have to be at his best to stay undefeated and keep the Joyce fight on for October. Yes these are bouts to keep the two guys busy but they're no walkovers for them. They're also a real chance for both men to raise their profile to a wider audience ahead of a big pay-per-view night."